Bourbon Pursuit

It's only been in the past 10 years that we have seen bourbon go through true innovation. Barrel finishes and blending different distillates weren't as common as they are now. Barrell Craft Spirits has been a pioneer in this space. In this episode we're joined by Will Schragis the Chief Product Innovation Officer for Barrel Craft Sprits. Will has been around since the beginning of Barrell and he tells how they approach innovating new products and the stories behind some of their most highly acclaimed and in-demand product extensions like Dovetail and Seagrass.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about blending subpar whiskey What were the early days like trying to establish the Barrell Bourbon brand? How do you deal with UPC code sprawl? What challenges do you experience with this business model of doing so many unique things? How do you scale Seagrass from a finishing standpoint? How do you determine what factors go into process innovation? Does constant customer education play a role with innovation? How can American whiskey move beyond blend being a dirty word? How can you be transparent when barrels need to be reconditioned? Do the micro-blends serve as a training ground for new products? Why has there not been a specifically toasted product yet? Can you explain why $500 gold label demanded the price? Was Stellum a way to introduce a lower price tag into the line? @barrellbourbon Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam Whiskey. This 2 year old bourbon is 108 proof and $80 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 26th 2022. The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit raises $1.4M. Freddie Noe has released the sixth chapter in his acclaimed Little Book Whiskey series, “To The Finish.” Four Roses Distillery has announced its 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon.Show Notes: The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit raises $1.4M Woodford Reserve is creating a sensory experience at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France The Macallan partners with luxury automotive Bentley Motors in new release Buffalo Trace Distillery announces the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Heritage Month Collection Kentucky’s Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts are bringing back their 5th Annual Bourbon & Benevolence Tasting & Charity Auction Campari Group buys a 15% minority stake in Howler Head Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has been ranked among the top 1,000 companies honored on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list Louisville Bourbon Transit Co releases the fifth batch of Bedtime Bourbon Freddie Noe has released the sixth chapter in his acclaimed Little Book Whiskey series, “To The Finish.” Michter’s Distillery will release its US*1 Toasted Barrel Sour Mash Whiskey Shirakawa 1958 Single Malt, believed to be ‘the world’s rarest Japanese whisky’, will be distributed worldwide Barrell Craft Spirits will introduce Barrell Vantage Four Roses to releases 16-year-old OESV barrels Four Roses Distillery has announced its 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon @woodfordreserve @the_macallan @bentleymotors @buffalotracedistillery @buffalotrace @502kobbe @campariofficial @campariusa @howlerheadwhiskey @uncleanearest @beamgeneration8 @michterswhiskey @barrellbourbon @fourrosesbourbon Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Bourbon Community Roundtable #71 where we are joined by the likes of all of our friends to talk about some hot topics in the recent bourbon news. Up first, we discuss lotteries vs lines. Now that Old Forester and Four Roses have announced they are no longer going to sell their limited birthday bourbon and small batch editions in the gift shop to local Kentuckians from people camping out, it has moved to a nationwide sweepstakes where anyone can enter. So, is this the beginning of the end for waiting in lines for bourbon? The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame is inducting six new people. There is criteria to make it, but what criteria would we consider to be in our hall of fame? Lastly, we look at an old topic which is what is the cheapest bottle you need to own?Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about whiskey for medicinal purposes Is Waiting in Line Dead? What's the criteria for the Bourbon Hall of Fame? What is the cheapest bottle worth having? @oldforester @fourrosesbourbon @kentuckybourbontrail @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Coy Hill. This non-age stated whiskey is 153.2 proof and $55 MSRP (375mL). Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 19th 2022. The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame will induct six new individuals.King of Kentucky packs two new 15 and 18year old releases. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Allocation Goes Into A National SweepstakesShow Notes: Rally is selling 2,000 shares at $7 each for a six-bottle collection of Pappy Van Winkle Beam Suntory has double-digit net sales growth for the first half of 2022 Wigle Whiskey sells to the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hard Seltzer and RTD shares increase in 2022 from IWSR The Scottish government will review if the angels’ share has health and environmental impacts The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame will induct six new individuals Ross & Squibb Distillery announce Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI Straight Bourbon Whiskey King of Kentucky packs two new 15 and 18 year old releases @rally @jdflicker @robbreport @beamsuntory @wiglewhiskey @brownforman @kentuckybourbontrail Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people will say we are currently experiencing a bourbon shortage. However, if you go to your local store you will see it's quite the opposite. There are walls of bourbon and with so many labels it's hard to know where everything comes from. To help dig through this topic I've invited Chad & Sara from It's Bourbon Night to join the show. We talk about how they met and how they've grown their YouTube channel into one of the premier places on the internet to get informative opinions on the latest whiskey releases as well as the favorite amongst many YouTubers, lists and top 10s.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about opening bottles prior to purchase for allocated bottles When did you start your YouTube channel? Do you remember your first video? Are there some videos that never get published? Have you figured out the formula to get the mosts views possible? How have you been able to combat the negative comments that come on the internet? Have you had to pivot on how you create content and find new audiences? Have you started to see an overcrowding of brands on the market? Is there such a thing as a "bad run" of MGP barrels? Will MGP still be the go-to source in 5 or 10 years? When production catches up, how do you determine who get space on the shelf? What will hurt the bourbon market the most? Are celebrity whiskey brands going to overcrowd the market? Will we start seeing labels begin to fail? @itsbourbonnight Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Ben Holladay Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon. This 6 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $60 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 5th 2022. An Israeli distillery makes country’s first Kentucky bourbon-style whiskey. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board members are investigated after buying leftover Pappy lottery bottles. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout announces 7 variants for this year's release.Show Notes: Revival Vintage Bottle Shop to Open New Location This Fall at North by Hotel Covington High West announced its Protect the West initiative and Campfire Release Maker’s Mark is honoring its co-founder, Marjorie Samuels, with the opening of a special permanent vestibule 11 American Whiskey Trends in 2022 from Beverage Dynamics Magazine The World’s 10 Most Valuable Spirits Brands (2022) Caskshare is set to launch The Big Lie aimed at Trump Breckenridge Distillery and the Denver Broncos announced two new limited-edition Mile High Bourbon Blends Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey will increase to a four-year age statement Antheum Studios and Tennessee Legend Distillery present Assassin’s Creed Straight Bourbon Whiskey @revivalvintagespirits @drinkhighwest @makersmark @beveragedynamics @caskshare @breckdistillary @broncos @old_overholt_official @jimbeam @beamsuntory @antheumstudios Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every brand finds their path. Some will talk about their grains sourced right on their farm. Some will rely on a historical figure from decades ago. But for Rabbit Hole, it's been about being a modern brand. Kaveh Zamanian makes his return to the show to talk about how the brand has changed in the few years since we had him on last. We discuss how their brand and liquid has evolved, how they are reaching into new demographics, his take on their new series of high end innovations and collaborations and a past time favorite of all of ours, dusty hunting.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about being Fred Minnick Why don't you go by Doctor Z? Did you originally intend the distillery to be built for Fred to have a 24-hour fermentation sleepover? Is the location of the distillery challenged by location since it's in a popular location? What are you doing to keep up with demand? Are you positioning yourself as a modern brand? Has the consumer mindset changed over the past few years now that the brand has grown? How do you collect your demographic data? What approach are you taking that you have such a high female consumer-base? How were you able to create no market confusion with your expressions? Why do you have a fascination with malting? Can you tell from the malting process that something will work or do you have to see it all the way through? What makes your 10 year blend and the 16 year french oak release special? What does the Founder's Collection mean to you as this was introduced? How did you get hooked up with Starlino? Are there barriers to entry as you grow and expand into international markets? Are bartenders or stores the best way to spend your resources for getting to market? How has your dusty hunting collection going? Are you trying to recreate some of your favorite dusties? @rabbithole @kzrabbithole Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices